Cognition Effects of Low-Grade Hypoxia

Ninety-one subjects were exposed to simulated altitudes of ground level, 1524, 2438, and 3658 m (5000, 8000, and 12,000 ft) in the Brooks City-Base altitude pressure chamber in a balanced design. Oxygen saturation, heart rate, and cognitive performance on seven different cognitive tasks were measured. In addition, subjects indicated their symptoms from a 33-item subjective symptom survey. As designed, oxygen saturation decreased and heart rate increased with higher altitudes. Very small degradations in performance were found at the two highest altitudes for only two of the cognitive tasks (continuous performance and grammatical reasoning). In the subjective symptom survey, 18 of the 33 possible symptoms were more common at 3658 m (12,000 ft) than at ground level. The findings indicated a minimal influence of low-grade hypoxia on cognitive performance in contrast to some existing classic symptoms of hypoxia.

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Record URL:
Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/23756314
Supplemental Notes:
- Abstract reprinted with permission of the Aerospace Medical Association.
Authors:
- Pilmanis, Andrew A
- Balldin, Ulf I
- Fischer, Joseph R
Publication Date: 2016-7

Language

English

Media Info

Media Type: Web
Features: References;
Pagination: pp 596-603
Serial:
- Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance
- Volume: 87
- Issue Number: 7
- Publisher: Aerospace Medical Association
- ISSN: 2375-6314
- EISSN: 2375-6322
- Serial URL: http://ingentaconnect.com/content/asma/asem

Subject/Index Terms

TRT Terms: Air pilots; Altitude; Cardiovascular system; Cognition; Driver performance; Hypoxia
Subject Areas: Aviation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

Accession Number: 01607990
Record Type: Publication
Files: TRIS
Created Date: Jun 27 2016 1:37PM